Golf bag shape retaining insert



Feb. 3, 1948.

G. S. THOMMEN GOLF BAG SHAPE RETAINING INSERT Filed Aug. 7, 1944 INVENTOR. GEO/P65 S. T/lW/Vf/V BY A TTOENEY Patented Feb. 3, 1948 GOLF BAG SHAPE RETAINING INSERT New York, N. Y., assignor Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York George S. Thommen,

to Sports Products Application August '7,

The present invention relates to golf bags and more particularly to a shape retaining insert for the flexible type of golf bag.

Light weight flexible golf bags commonly known as Sunday bags, while very popular nevertheless have many disadvantages. Being flexible the bag when put to use, soon loses its shape and the open end tends to lop over. The bag also tends to collapse when picked up causing the clubs to spill out onto the ground. Further, such bags due to their lack of stiffness cannot be used with a golf bag support of the character designed to use the bag as one leg of the support.

It is an object of this invention to provide at shape retaining insert for flexible golf bags overcoming the above mentioned disadvantages,

Another object is to provide .a golf bag shape retaining insert which is light in weight and easily applied to the golf bag. I

A feature of the insert is its simplicity of construction and compactness for shipping. The insert comprises a substantially rigid slender rod-like part approximately the length of a, golf bag having at its ends laterally extended parts easily flexed to a small size for insertion into a golf bag. When the extended parts are released within the bag they tend to return to their original condition thereby urging the bag material outwardly in a taut condition of the desired shape. The slender rigid part may be made integral or separate with respect to the laterally extended parts. If separate, suitable means are provided for clamping or otherwise securing the extended parts in a desired position on the rigid part. Where the parts are made integral with the rigid part, the latter may be made collapsible for shipping purposes.

The above and additional objects and features of the invention will become more apparent when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective-showing the shape retaining insert in a position withina golf bag;

Fig. 2 shows three views of the end portion of the rigid rod-like element indicating the means thereon for securing an extended part of the insert thereto;

Fig. 3 is an end view of tlie'insert;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the center portion of a laterally extended part indicating the means for securing it upon the rigid part of the insert;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention, and

1944, Serial No. 548,338

4 Claims. (Cl. ISO-1.5)

Fig. 6 shows the modified form in collapsed condition for shipping.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, one embodiment of the golf bag shape retaining insert of my invention is shown to comprise a rigid rod 10 .and two spring members H and 12 secured to opposite ends of the rod. The .insert is shown positioned in a flexible Sunday bag i l indicated by broken lines to illustrate the shape retaining feature of the invention. The bag 14 .is provided with a disk for the bottom end, an annular rim or ring member for shaping the mouth end, with the remainder of the bag comprising canvas or other similar flexible material sewed over the disk and rim parts. It will be clear that such a bag while convenient for holding golf clubs while bag, does not retain its shapebut tends to collapse and :cause trouble for the golfer when he picks it up and inserts golf clubs into the bag. The shape retaining insert of my invention, being of rod material approximately the length of the bag with spring members extended laterally therefrom at the ends of the rod, maintains the bag in extended position with the bag material held in taut condition. The member ll being held at substantially right angles to the rod Ill maintains the open end of the bag from lapping down upon the golf clubs.

The spring members 'II and 12 are preferably made alike for simplicity of construction although they may be made differently if desired. The rod ID, as shown in Fig. 2 is preferably shaped at its ends to provide an irregular surface as shown by the indentations l6, l1 and IBby which each spring member is retained in desired position on the rod. The spring member as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a piece of fiat spring material which is easily flexed into .circular or .oval form for insertion into the .mouth of a golf bag. The central portion ofthe spring member is slit as indicated-at 20 and :2l and the adjacent material bulged in opposite directions as indicated at 23, 24 and 25 to provide a passage for reception of the rod. To assemble themember .H upon the rod ill the end of the rod is forced through the slits 20 and 2! until the .bulged portions 23 and .25 lodge in the indentations l6 and ll respectively, with the bulged portion 24 in indentation 18. This provides {for clamped engagement holding the member H at substantially right angles to the rod. While I have shown the spring members positioned at the ends of the rod, it will be readily apparent that the golfer is carrying the rial in the shape I a stop for the sleeve.

sert is shown in nested relation in Fig. 6 with 3 additional members may be located at positions between the ends if desired.

The members II and I2, when packed for shipping, may be substantially flat. The spring material of the members -II and I2, however, is light and flexible so that they are easily flexed into a substantially circular shape as indicated at 28 for insertion into the bag. When the membars are released they tend to return to their original condition thereby urging the material of the bag outwardly in shape, as the case may be.

the desired circular or oval It is recognized that the shape retainer may be made in various ways and of material different l5" v which is transverse to the plane of the circular shape of said from that shown in Figs. -1 to 4. For example;

the rod l may comprise tube material slotted at" its ends to receive the spring members therein, being held by pinchingthe the spring members ends of the tubes or. if desired a fastening ar- I rangement similar to that illustrated in Figs, 2, 3 and 4 may be employed. Many difierent ways may be devised for securing the spring members to the long rigid element without departing from the generic feature of the invention;

7 Instead of having separate spring members the laterally extended parts may comprise integral parts of the rod element. In Figs. 5 and 6 I show such an embodiment; the rod element, however, is made in two parts 3| they may be nested together for shipping purposes. The parts 3| and 32 may be made integral though if desired.- The ends 33.and 3d comprise lateral extensions of the rods curved to conform generally to thecrosssectional shape of the golf bag; The curved portions 33 and 34 are, of course, larger in-cross section than .the

bag but since they may be flexed inwardly tosmaller size for insertion they tend to springback after insertion and thereby hold the bag matedesired. The parts 3| and 32' may be held together in any desired manner so long as the parts are held rigidly. As shown, a sleeve 35 surrounds the two members one of which has its end 38 turned outwardly to provide The shape retaining inthe sleeve holding the two parts together.

If desired the sleeve 36 may be made to closely receive the rod material of one of the parts through one end thereof and the other through the other end thereof in the manner of a simple coupling. Such a tubular sleeve may be secured to one of the parts and thereby operate as a socket for the other.

While I have shown and described more than one embodiment of the invention they are to be regarded as illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the scope of the invention as set forth in the objects and the appended claims. I'claim: V V II 1. A shape retaining insert for flexible 'bags comprising a rod shaped element for positioning upright in said 'bag, a,substantially circular spring member adapted when flexed to a smaller circular size to be received in said bag, the center portion of said spring member having an eyelet formed by slits disposed lengthwise'in said spring member and the material adjacent said slits is bulged to present is transverse to the plane 'of'the circular shape of said spring member andsaid rod element havbag causing it to ing upright in said member and the the bottomand the the centerportion of each spring member having ing an end capable of being received in said eyesmaller size tends to return to its original size urging outwardly the material of said bag causing it to assume a substantially circular shape.

.2. A shape retaining insert ior flexible bags comprising a rod shaped .element'forpositionbag, a substantially circular spring member adapted when flexed to a smaller circular size to be received in said bag; the-center portion of said. spring member having an eyelet formed by slits disposed lengthwise in said spring material adjacent said slits is bulgedto preset a passageway the axis of spring member, and one end of said rod having at least two lateral projectionsstaggered in position lengthwise of said element for latching engagement with said eyelet to hold said spring member-at one end of saidbag,

.said spring member when released from said smaller size tendsto returnto its originalsize urging outwardly the material of said bag oaus- 7 ing it to assume'a substantially circular shape.

BIA shape retainingins'ert for flexible bags comprising a rod shaped element forpositioning upright in said bag, two substantially circular spring members adapted when flexed to smaller circular size to be receivedin said bag, one for other for the top of said bag,

an'eyelet, and said rod element having its ends capable of being received in the eyelets tohold the springmembers atthe top and bottom ends of said bag, the spring members when released from said smaller size tend to return to their original size urging outwardly'material of said assume substantially circular shape. 1 1

4. A shape retaining insert for flexible bags comprising a rod for. positioning upright insaid bag with the upper end adjacentthe mouth of the bag, a flat springadapted to be flexed to a small circular size for reception into the mouth of said bag, the center portion of said spring having an eyelet formed at least in part by the spring being bulged to provide a channel the axis of which is transverse to the plane ofthecircular shape to which said spring may be flexed and said rod having-its upper end capable of be: ing received in said eyelet to 'hold said spring 7 member at the top of said bag and at substantially a right angle to the rod, the spring'memher when releasedirom; said small flexed size tends to return-to its original shape thereby urge m mess'emn;

' The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:-

U ITED ETA E PATENT T Number I "Name j Date 2,128,546 Venmore z. Aug. '30; .933 2,083,138 Becker 7 June 8,1937

1,599,786 Overand taut circular shape at the mouth of the 

